Explaining Guardianship and Conservatorship to a Loved One/Beneficiary


Conversations with loved ones who are declining in health and perhaps advancing in age are difficult. Such difficulty is only exacerbated when that loved one is losing their ability to make healthcare decisions on their own behalf or manage their …

Trustee Removal: MUTC v. Trust Document


Just because a trustee was named in a trust document does not necessarily mean they will continue to serve perpetually. Many trust instruments include language granting the settlor (creator of the trust), and/or the beneficiaries the authority to remove a …


Picture this: your great aunt has died and left you and your brother each one million dollars, her entire estate, in a will. Great, right? Now imagine that your brother never appreciated your great aunt during her lifetime, and you …


As our loved ones get older, we want to ensure that they have planned for their future. This often means having an estate plan in place to handle the distributions of their assets upon their passing or to plan for …


Alex Harrington, Burns & Levinson

There may come a point in life when you – or a loved one –need a trusted family member, friend, or professional to assist with your property and financial affairs and decision-making.  Since that point may come when you are …

How to Fire Your Fiduciary


There may come a time in your life when you are in need of a fiduciary. A fiduciary relationship is deemed to exist when one party is bound to act for the benefit of another party. You may have the …


It is a common misconception that if a person has a will, there will be no need for court proceedings upon their death. In Massachusetts, however, a will must always be admitted to probate, a process requiring various forms of …


When preparing your estate plan, it is essential to designate the proper fiduciaries to handle your affairs during your incapacity or after your death. How do you choose the right person for each of these roles? This is one of …

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Patricia Malley of Burns & Levinson

Recent online articles have widely reported that Naomi Judd allegedly left nothing in her will to her two daughters, Wynonna and Ashley Judd, and appointed her husband of 33 years, Larry Strickland, as the executor of her estate. The internet …